IT is a Moving Target For Six Flags CIO

[GADVwow]

A very interesting article, especially if you are in information technology or are interested in that area:

http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=disaster_recovery&articleId=315850&taxonomyId=83&intsrc=kc_feat

[WadeJ]

Being that this IS what I do, I found this very interesting.  I'm really curious if they use the same management systems we do (Altiris) for lifecycle management, monitoring, etc.  (potential job? lol)

Two things caught my eye:

You're considering biometric technology for your season pass. How will that work? We're looking at a new ticketing system which, instead of taking a picture to identify the season-pass holder, will do a biometric scan. It doesn't take your fingerprint, but creates a numeric [value] out of certain spots on your finger.

While I don't have a problem with this since it isn't a true fingerprint, I am curious why they would look at it now when Disney is working on removing them completely due to slowing down the turnstiles too much.

What's a little-known fact about running an amusement park business? The electricity cost for a large roller coaster can come to $600,000 per year, [and] overhauls each season can run into the millions.

I would just LOVE to know what Kingda Ka costs if a regular large roller coaster costs this much!

[Ogolo]

I kind of figured that the ride control systems were independent.
The POS system is down we so we can't launch Kingda Ka!!

I always wondered the cost for 1 launch of Kingda Ka was.  It can't be cheap.

GADVwow are you part google??  How do you find all these obscure articles.
This was a good find...I'd love to see a more deatailed view of their systems.

[PcMan]

I always wondered the cost for 1 launch of Kingda Ka was.  It can't be cheap.

Hmm figure Kilowatt hour.
I know i figured a 2hp (240 volt, higher voltage more efficient) pump a few years ago
 around 25 cent an hour or something like that.
so if you can get the amps the coaster uses or kilowatt hour.

GADVwow are you part google??  How do you find all these obscure articles.
This was a good find..

I get them all day long as they happen from Google alerts
you can setup anyword to email you as soon as it happens.
i even setup SIX,Clementon,my town etc.
i have about 40 keywords setup
and have them just routed into different folders in my Outlook email (not outlook express)

warning it makes for a lot of email all day long

[GADVwow]

I do not get email alerts, and many of my finds do not come from Google...I do what I do for a reason!

[PcMan]

yes same here as the emails alerts sometimes come instantly and other times are delayed

so you need to go to those "favorite links" and industry pages.

[rjholla2003]

Google isn't as good as WOW!  I have one tab on my Google homepage devoted to Six Flags, and specifically Great Adventure, and another tab for the rest of the industry, and it still doesn't turn up some of these.

Wade: Disney's looking to remove them?  Interesting.  I never found them to be slow, nor did any of my friends that worked in admissions complain about them being slow.  Just the occasional guest that wouldn't understand/care to listen to the fact that it's nor taking a fingerprint, or that use the wrong finger.

[WadeJ]

Well, keep in mind that this is coming from those other sites like Miceage and Jimhillmedia.com but thats the word on the street lol.

And actually, nearly every time we would enter  Disney park we would get held up behind a group that just couldn't get it working correctly.  And usually it is the elderly.  Now the newer single-finger readers do seem to do a better job but they are still a PITA.  But they do always get them to work so that is probably why somebody in admissions wouldn't have any complaints.  Who knows... maybe Disney will soon be using retinal scanners lol.